Apparatus for continuous seaming of pile floor coverings



March 18, 1952 A T. DILDILIAN ETAL 2,589,929

APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUS SEAMING OF PILE FLOOR COVERINGS 2 SHEETS-SHEET1 Filed July 10, 1948 33 N3 mm March 18, 1952 A T DILDILIAN ET ALAPPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUS SEAMING OF FILE FLOOR COVERINGS Filed July 10,1948 V 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 IIIIl/I wow MENU vm MAJ! ATTORNEY Patented Mar.18, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUS SEAMIN GOF PILE FLOOR 'COVERIN GS Delaware Application July 10, 1948, Serial No.38,044

This invention relates to seaming of pile floor coverings and inparticular to a continuous means and method of automatically joining twopieces of pile floor covering on the side opposite to the pile facethereof along the seam formed by the abutting edges of said pieces.

Heretofore, the seaming of pile floor coverings has been done by hand.The pieces to be joined are usually spread on a floor or similar flatexpanse, pile face down. The edges are matched and then tacked to thefloor to hold them firmly against one another While adhesive, tape, heatand pressure are applied to the seam which is then allowed to set.subsequently the joined fabric is removed from the floor.

One object of this invention is to eliminate or minimize manualoperation in seaming pile floor coverings.

Another object is to lay two pieces of said covering so that theirabutting edges are continuously and automatically matched and heldfirmly together during the seaming operation.

A,- further object is to continuously and automatically apply theadhesive, tape and heating device to the seam of the two pieces of floorcovering.

A still further object is to automatically provide enough, but a minimumamount, of time to allow the seam to set.

A further object is to remove the finished product continuously from theseaming mechanism.

. Another object is to join two pieces of pile floor covering togetherby seaming faster, more accurately and more economically thenheretofore.

A feature of this invention is an endless spiked conveyor-belt adaptedto uniformly travel with and hold in alignment and abutment two piecesof pile floor covering, pile face down and their adjacent edges abuttingone another, to and past various seaming mechanisms hereinafterdescribed. The belt also permits pressure on the backs of the pieceswithout crushing the pile and allows solvent and water vapors in thepieces to be exhausted through the pile face without injurious effects,such as pile discoloration.

Other objects and features will appear from the following descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the apparatus of this invention,

Fig. 2 is a plan view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a detailed side View of part of the apparatus illustrated inFig. 1 on an enlarged scale,

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 3 on an enlargedscale, and l 6 Claims. (01. 154-423) Fig. is a cross-sectional view online 5-.-5 of Fig. 3 on an enlarged scale.

Two pieces of pile floor covering are drawn, one from roll l0 and theother from roll l2, Figs. 1 and 2. The piece from roll I!) travels overidler roll l4, under spiked brake roll I6 and idler roll 18, and overidler roll 26. The piece from roll [2 passes over idler roll 22, underspiked brake roll 24 and over the idler roll 26, which unlike the otherrolls engages both pieces of floor covering which pass thereover innearly edgeabutting position onto table 26, which is supported byvertical members 28 and 30 and is wide enough to accommodate thecombined widths of both pieces. The table has therein a longitudinalshallow trough 32, Figs. 3 and 5.

Travelling longitudinally within the trough and supported upon thebottom thereof is spiked conveyor-belt 34, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, whichpasses between and around pulleys 36 and 38. I

Extending through a slot in the table near the roll 20 is knife blade46, Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, which straightens any pile tufts which may havebecome folded over into the seam formed by the two pieces of floorcovering, thereby clearing the adjacent edges of said tufts. The bladehas on either side horizontal rigid wings 42 which ride upon the backingstructure of the two pieces thereby preventing the latter from risingoil the table. Beyond the blade 40 in the direction of the travel of thefloor coverings is adjustable temple roll 44 having its axis set at anangle and possessing a series of graduated free moving spiked discs,Fig. 4. As these spiked discs ride on the back of one of the pieces,they force the edge of the latter into firm abutting relationship withthe edge of the other piece.

The edge portions of the pieces next pass onto the belt 34 and underpressure .bar 46, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, which forces the pile surface of thepieces onto the spikes on said belt. The pulley 36 which is preferablydirectly beneath the bar 46 is crowned, Fig. 4, thereby spreading thespikes on the belt so that they penetrate the pile surfaces at adiverging angle. After passing over the pulley 36, the belt levels out,causing the spikes of the belt to return to their normal verticalposition therebydrawing the abutting edges of the two pices tightlytogether.

The pulley 36 need not be crowned, but fiat like pulley 38, in whichcase the two pieces would be forced into tightly edgeabuttingrelationship by the temple roll 44 alone or additional temple rollsbetween the blade 40 and the bar 46."

The pieces next pass under spiked idler roll 48, Figs. 1 and 3, whichmaintains the pieces in uniform register from its point of contacttherewith. The pieces then pass under a perforated adhesive applicator50 on the bottom of an adhesive container 52 which is pivoted on fixture54. The width of the applicator corresponds to the width of the seamingtape hereinafter described. Air pressure is utilized to force acontrolled fiow of adhesive from the container 52 onto the backing ofthe edge portions of the pieces by means of pipe '56, air hose 58, aircontrol valve 60, air pressure gauge 62, regulator valve 64 and safetyvalve 66.

A roll of seaming tape 68, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, is suspended in a slottedfixture. The tape is fed to the adhesive coated portions of the piecesat a point directly under a weighted roll of inert masking material 10,such as cellophane, aluminum foil or the like, held in a fixture whichpermits the roll to turn and move in a vertical plane but preventslateral movement thereof.

Instead of the above adhesive applicator and tape, a seaming tape towhich an adhesive has been afiixed may be employed. The adhesive wouldliquefy under heat and pressure, and the same results, hereinafterdescribed, would be accomplished as with the separate application ofadhesive and tape.

After the tape has been applied to the backing structure and after themasking material is placed over the tape, the pieces are subjected tothe pressure of heating iron 12, Figs. 1 and 3. The heating iron restsupon the masking material in its rearwardmost position, as indicated indotted lines, whence it is carried forward by the movement of the floorcovering until it reaches its forwardmost position, as shown by solidlines. Then by successive steps it is raised off the masking material,carried rearwardly, and finally lowered down in its rearwardmostposition upon a new, successive section of masking material, tape,adhesive and floor covering to complete the cycle. The associated partsof the heating iron consist of sup-porting arms 74, Figs. 1, 3 and 5,pivotally connected to lever arm '16, Fig. 5, to which two verticalcarriage side plates 18 and 80 are bolted. The side plates support twopairs of grooved rollers 82 and 84, the former under and the latter overtrack 86 which supports the iron and its associated parts. Lever handle88 is attached to lever arms 90 extending from the side plate '86 andmay be operated by hand or by automatic means, not shown. Other heatingmeans, of course, lend themselves to this apparatus, such as, forinstance, a series of irons in an endless circular arrangement.

The sides of the trough 32, Fig. 5, are perforated the length of theiron dwell by holes 92 and 94. Air is sucked through the holes 92 acrossthe pile face of the floor coverings through the holes 94 into exhausthood 96, down exhaust pipe 98 and is discharged by exhaust fan I00, Fig.1.

Positioned beyond the iron dwell is cylinder I02, Figs. 1, 2 and 3,around which is wrapped an end of the masking material and upon whichthe masking material is rolled, as the joined pieces pass by this point,to remove the masking material from the tape. When the cylinder hasaccumulated, a sufiicient amount of; masking material, it may be removedand replaced by an mpty one.

The joined pieces then proceed under spiked drive roll I04, Fig. 1, overidler rolls I06 and H18, and onto a pair of power driven rolls H and U2which roll up the covering'into a roll of any desired diameter.

There is not matching problem in joining solid colored fabrics, but whenjoining patterned fabrics, index marks, previously woven into the backof the edges of two abutting pieces at corresponding points in thepattern, are brought into alignment, as hereinafter described, so thatthe pattern of one piece will be perfectly matched with the pattern onthe other piece.

In. order to match the two adjacent edges of two patterned pieces offloor covering as they are first laid upon the table, two brake drums II4 and H6, Fig. 1, are attached to the spiked brake rolls I6 and 24,respectively. Passing under and partially around the drum H4 is brakeband II5 fixed at one end and at the other end attached to one end ofpivoted lever I20. To the other end of said lever is attached wire cableI22 which passes therefrom down around pulleys I24 and I25 and up tobrake lever I28. Passing under and partially around the drum H6 is brakeband I30 fixed at one end and at the other end attached to one end ofpivoted lever I32. To the other end of said lever is attached wire cableI34 which passes therefrom down around pulleys I35 and I38, across topulley I40 and then up to brake lever I42. Both brake levers I28 and I42are pivoted on bar I44 and have handles at their ends oppositeto theseto which the wire cables I22 and I34 are attached to manipulate thebrake bands I I5 and I30, respectively.

In operation the two pieces of floor covering are drawn under tensionfrom sources of supply around idler and brake rolls onto the table pileface down so that their adjacent edges are substantially or nearlyabutting each other. edges of patterned fabrics are matched byincreasing or relaxing tension in either one of the pieces in relationto the other. Pile tufts are cleared from the edges which are thenbrought into tightly abutting relationship. The abutting edge portionsof the two pieces are engaged by the spiked belt travelling in thetrough in the table and carried under the adhesive dispenser whichdeposits adhesive upon the seam and edge portions of the pieces in astrip as wide as the seaming tape which is placed over theadhesivecoated edge portions. A strip of masking material to keep theadhesive from sticking to and building up on the heating iron is placedover the tape. The heating iron is lowered upon the masking material andis carried along thereupon by the moving pieces and then is lifted to bere tracted to engage another successive section of taped fabric. Themasking material is removed from the tape as the joined fabric passesbeyond the iron dwell. Finally the joined fabric is removed from thetable. I

We claim:

1. An apparatus for joining two pieces of pile floor covering at theseam thereof comprising a table, means to draw said pieces pile facedown onto and over said table with an edge of one of said pieces tightlyabutting the edge of the other piece, a trough extending substantiallythe length of said table, a pulley underneath one end of said trough,another pulley underneath the other end of said trough, an endlessconveyor belt passing around said pulleys and along and upon the bottomof said trough, spikes on said belt adapted to engage the pile faces ofsaid edge portions and maintain said edges in tightly abuttingrelationship with each other, means to apply an adhesively coatedseaming tape to the backs of the abutting edge portions of said pieces,a. heated device adapted to ride on said tape a predeter- The mineddistance and means to raise, retract and lower said heated device inrelation to said tape.

2. An apparatus for joining two pieces of pile floor covering at theseam thereof comprising a table, means to draw said pieces pile facedown onto and over said table with an edge of one of said pieces tightlyabutting the edge of the other piece, a trough extending substantiallythe length of said table, a crowned pulley underneath one end of saidtrough, a second pulley underneath the other end of said trough, anendless conveyor belt passing around said pulleys and along and upon thebottom of said trough, spikes on said belt adapted to engage the pilefaces of said edge portions and maintain said edges in tightly abuttingrelationship with each other, means to apply adhesive upon the backs ofthe abutting edge portions of said pieces, means to apply a seaming tapeto the adhesively coated edge portions, a heated device adapted to rideon said tape a predetermined distance, and means to raise, retract andlower said heated device in relation to said tape.

3. An apparatus for joining two pieces of pile floor covering at theseam thereof comprising a table, means to draw said pieces pile facedown onto and over said table with an edge of one of said pieces tightlyabutting the edge of the other piece, a trough extending substantiallythe length of said table, a crowned pulley underneath one end of saidtrough, a second pulley underneath the other end of said trough, anendless conveyor belt passing around said pulleys and along and upon thebottom of said trough, spikes on said belt adapted to engage the pilefaces of said edge portions and maintain said edges in tightly abuttingrelationship with each other, means to apply adhesive upon the backs ofthe abutting ed e ortions of said pieces, means to apply a seaming tapeto the adhesively coated edge portions, means to overlay a masking tapeupon said seaming tape, a heated device adapted to ride on said maskingtape a predetermined distance, means to raise, retract and lower saidheated device in relation to said masking tape, and a wind-up roll tomove said masking tape from said seaming tape.

4. An apparatus for joining two pieces of pile floor covering at theseam thereof comprising two fabric-roll supports one for each of saidpieces, a table, means to draw said piece pile face down onto and oversaid table with an edge of one of said pieces adjacent to an edge of theother piece, means to match said edges comprising braking means engagingseparately each of said pieces between said roll supports and saidtable, a temple roll engaging the edge portion of one of said pieces toforce the edge of the engaged piece into tightly abutting contact withthe edge of the other piece, a trough extending substantially the lengthof said table, a crowned pulley underneath one end of said trough, asecond pulley underneath the other end of said trough, an endlessconveyor belt passing around said pulleys and along and upon the bottomof said trough, spikes on said belt, a bar above said crowned pulleyadapted to press the pile face of said edge portions onto said spikes,means to apply adhesive upon the backs of said edge portions, means toapply a seaming tape to the adhesively coated edge portions, means tooverlay a masking tape upon said seaming tape, a heated device adaptedto ride on said masking tape a predetermined distance, means to raise,retract and lower said heated device in relation to said masking tape,and a wind-up roll to remove said masking tape from said seaming tape.

5. An apparatus for joining two pieces of pile floor covering at theseam thereof comprising two fabric-roll supports one for each of saidpieces, a table, means to draw said pieces pile face down onto and oversaid table with an edge of one of said pieces adjacent to an edge of theother, piece, means to match said edges comprising braking meansengaging separately each of said pieces between said roll supports andsaid table, a vertical knife located between said edges to clear saidseam of pile tufts, a temple roll engaging the edge portion of one ofsaid pieces to force the edge of the engaged piece into tightly abuttingcontact with the edge of the other piece, a trough extendingsubstantially the length of said table, a crowned pulley underneath oneend of said trough, a second .pulley underneath the other end of saidtrough, an endless conveyor belt passing around said pulleys and alongand upon the bottom of said trough, spikes on said belt, a bar abovesaid crowned pulley adapted to press the pile face of said edge portionsonto said spikes, means to apply adhesive upon the backs of said edgeportions, means to apply a seaming tape to the adhesively coated edgeportions, means to overlay a masking tape upon said seaming tape, aheated device adapted to ride on said masking tape a predetermineddistance, means to raise,

retract and lower said heated device in relation to said masking tape,an exhaust chamber extending under said trough beneath said heateddevice, a plurality of passages leading into one side of said trough,another plurality of passages leading from the other side of said troughinto said exhaust chamber, a piimp to draw air through said passages andtrough and out of said exhaust chamber, and a wind-up roll to removesaid masking tape from said seaming tape.

6. In an apparatus for joining two pieces of pile floor covering at theseam thereof and in combination with means to draw said pieces throughsaid apparatus, a device to match the adjacent edges of said piecescomprising two spiked brake rolls each engaging each of said pieces, twobrake drums each attached to each of said rolls, two brake bands eachengaging each of said drums and two brake levers each connected to eachof said bands.

ARA T. DILDILIAN. KENNETH M. WOOD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 212,767 Tucker Feb. 25, 1879345,468 Wilmott July 13, 1886 501,187 Hetzel July 11, 1893 1,137,243Terry Apr. 27, 1915 1,506,509 Sutherland Aug. 26, 1924 1,924,551 HigginsAug. 29, 1933 1,987,079 Rosenmund Jan. 8, 1935 2,176,584 Daller Oct. 17,1939

